A Few Thoughts about the *Patriots Game, in no particular order

[Virgil]

Sometimes I forget the reasons beyond Marsha, Hoodie, and cheap-shot Edelman as to why I hate the Pats, but then I watch a game and see all the things they do to win and it just reminds me how terrible I believe they are for the league and can't wait until they are done.  The ways they push the playbooks and stretch so many rules that the refs are bound to miss some.  It's infuriating and they will always be the Cheaters to me.  Winning or not, being on a team that I would want my kids to play for matters to me.  There's nothing about the Pats style of winning or culture that impresses me.  I wouldn't take any of it for even one season, even if it meant a Super-Bowl victory.  With that, you can sense my mood and how this will go as I said before the game, there are no moral victories here.

 

1 - Defensive Pressure - While the Pats ran the ball consistently for the first two drives, it leveled out as the game went on with the passing ratio.  When dropping back to pass, Brady had all day to throw.  We didn't run stunts, didn't send extra players.  We just let him sit back there and make throws.  There was only one throw where Brady was in distress, and that was more on him bailing out early.  In every previous McD game, Brady was rattled, dirty, and visibly frustrated.  Not this game and it's completely inexcusable.

 

2 - Defensive Coverage - I said this last week and I'm going to say it again.  At what point are we going to put Tre on opposing teams #1 receiver and when are we going to cover the man in motion?!  It was beyond infuriating pre-snap to know where the pass was going and then have it unfold right before my eyes.  On the big Edelman catch on the last touchdown drive, he went in motion, Tre didn't go with him, and he ends up getting covered by a safety.  Hyde ended up on Edelman more than a few times and I just don't understand it.

 

3 - Defensive line run support - I can understand the mis-direction plays, which the Pats try to create a lot and keeps the defensive coverage in more of a structured base formation.  But rarely, and I mean rarely, were we crashing the middle of the line and plugging up the holes and allowed them 4-6 yards on a majority of the running plays.  Again, pre-snap, you could see it unfold and I almost wonder if Brady audibled into a lot of those runs because of the looks. 

 

4 - "There are no moral victories in the NFL.  You win or you lose.  The only stat that matters is 1 and 0.  It's how you prepare, react, and execute.  The team with the 1 is better that day.  You need to be better and prove it"

 

5 - Execution - Milano had one of his worst games today between not holding his zone well, but moreso in the tackling department.  However, it all can't be put on him.  There were quite a few plays that resulted in first downs due to poor tackling by White, Poyer got bulldozed a few times, and Lorax was abused on a few runs.  When our play style is to win the close games, you can't tire yourself out and keep the offense on the field with such poor execution, especially against the Cheats.  Don't get me started on Ford either.

 

6 - Boom or Bust Offense - There were so many opportunities in the second half to step on the Pats throats but we went back to our vanilla rush offense up the middle for no gain.  In the first drive, we at least showed some mis-direction, jet sweep, reverse looks that spread the Pats out a little, but that all went away in the second half.  Our rushing creativity was non-existent, no screen passes, no quick shots to the receivers, just quick 3 and outs.  What made it more frustrating was how explosive the offense looked at times and how momentum was on our side.  It's as bi-polar an offensive performance as I've seen this season.  Daboll needed a complete game today and he didn't do it.  Very disappointed in him.

 

7 - Allen - This is a hard one for me because he made two of his best throws of the season, but also left 11 points on the field.  Allen missed Knox twice for touchdowns.  The first one wasn't as easy a throw, but definitely makeable for an NFL starter.  His last one would have tied the game and there's no excuse for that miss.  He had a couple of misses in the middle of the field that will happen and I'm not too worried about for him.  But man, his deep throws!  His bomb to Knox was first first lofted deep ball completion of the season and it was at a perfect time.  His bomb to Brown was shaded of Jacksonville, but this time he threw before the break and hit Brown perfectly in stride.  (Side note:  Gilmore got faked out of his shoes on that play for his first TD against him of the season).  Allen did a great job not turning the ball over and made some solid runs.  He had a beautiful double-clutch, side arm pass to Beasley for a big gain as well.  Assuming he doesn't play next week, he will barely eclipse 3k yards this season.

 

8 - The Dirty - The play that represents the Pats/Brady/Edelman/Hoodie era was the offensive screen where Edelman hurt himself making a block before the pass.  My skin crawled watching the Pats trying to play it off like he was knocked down while trying to run a route and even the announcers just tried to defend it.  Edelman straight up tackled the defender as the rest of the players executed their routes.  The acting, the complaining, the attempted tackle is just trash to me and I'll never respect them.  But that's who they are.  Push the limits 10 times and hope they only call 5 of them.  Missed hands to the face calls on Hughes, facemask on Allen on the Qb sneak, illegal blocks downfield, terrible intentional grounding by Brady...all missed.  I just can't wait until it's all over and it definitely is starting to look that will be sooner than later.

 

9 - McD - I'm disappointed in the lack of aggressive play calling we had.  It's one thing to get beat on a blitz because you left a zone open, but it's worse when you don't even try to disrupt the opposing team.  The 3 and outs on offense were boring and predictable.  On both sides of the ball, it just felt like we were playing for 20 points and had faith that would be enough.  And normally that's true, but this is the Pats and that's what I think McD is missing.  This team will never respect us until we make them.  Brady needs to be put on his ass.  Edelman needs to be blanketed.  Make them lose their composure and point fingers.  Brady's jersey was clean and their offense was dormant all year until this game.  McD needs to be better in these games if he wants to be that next level coach.  He got beat today. 

 

10 -  Overall - A loss against the Pats is always tough because of who they've been to us over the last twenty years.  I genuinely believed we were going to win this game before it started and I feel sick afterwards knowing we should have.  It's an all to familiar feeling against this team whom I absolutely despise.  Winning would've been the icing on the cake for a season where we got a lot of monkey's off our back.  To do it in a game where it felt like everyone could see what the Bills needed to do to win except the coaches makes it harder.  I'm glad this wasn't week 17 and next week is basically a bye week for us.  We can shake this feeling and prep for our road playoff game.

 

Go Bills!

Edited December 22, 2019 by Virgil

[Maine-iac]

I asked myself before this game, do you show all your cards?  I really would love to have seen some situational blitzing.  That said I do hope we have a bunch of things up our sleeves because we will be playing in January this year.

[goldenboy81]

Good write up as usual. Can't believe they sat in the zone for most the game, never really adjusting or blitzing.

Seemed like they were holding back and not trying to show much, on both sides.

They seem to open the playbook on the 2 drives at the end of the halfs

[Virgil]

8 minutes ago, Maine-iac said:

I asked myself before this game, do you show all your cards?  I really would love to have seen some situational blitzing.  That said I do hope we have a bunch of things up our sleeves because we will be playing in January this year.

 

Playing them again would mean both the wildcard teams need to win in the first round.  Or, we have to beat the Ravens on the road

Edited December 22, 2019 by Virgil

[frogger]

I felt the best play of the game by Allen was when he had Beasley motion inside and when the blitz came he hit the hot WR (Beasley).  It was only a 8 yard gain, but it was quick and on time.

 

[zow2]

As much as it pains me, I was impressed that NE controlled the trenches today for the most part.  They don’t have the scary offense they used to have but their O and D linemen play strong.

[DRA3196]

I agree on defense we didn't play fearless today. and on offense we did at times and when we did we scored. Still need more playmakers on offense, tackling was lacking at times but the defense was tired in the 4th quarter. Good Summary on the game.  There is no honor among thieves. I hate Kraft and everything associated with the entire patriots organization. Time to rest  the masses and get set for round 1.

[TroutDog]

Didn’t read it all as you’re saying to put Tre on a slot receiver. Ummmm, no. They double teamed him and that is the way to handle it. 
 

We had a chance to tie with seconds left in their house with a second year QB, a suspect O line, limited O weapons and no true edge rushers. 
 

Righting a large ship is a process and if you’ve ever led one of those changes you can understand. If not, you always think you can do it better. 

Edited December 22, 2019 by TroutDog

[DuckyBoys]

Honestly this was probably the defenses worst game  No pressure, poor tackling, playing soft coverage on third downs.  Especially considering what the Pats have on offense and tennis elbow Tommy.  Patriots without a doubt were way more physical on both sides.  Bills OL was terrible. 

[HappyDays]

I don't think this is the defense we'll see in the playoffs. We didn't throw in any wrinkles, looked to me like it was basic zone or man coverage across the board. That's not how we've been playing before today.

 

The offense I don't really have excuses for because we've seen the same crappy situational play calling all season long. I'd like to think Daboll won't call mindless 1 yard runs in the playoffs over and over again but it's a recurring issue.

[Kelly the Dog]

I'm a big McDermott fan and still am but I think he made a ton of tactical errors that affected the game. Not putting Tre on Edelman when Wallace and K Johnson could have handled Sanu and Harry was a huge mistake. Not pressuring more, when they were not getting real separation was a big mistake. Handcuffing the offense, to me, is not worth the trade off. 

 

There is a lot to like about him. And usually his defensive game plans are solid. But I think it cost them today. 

[stony]

9 minutes ago, Virgil said:

 

Playing them again would mean both the wildcard teams need to win in the first round.  Or, we have to beat the Ravens on the road

True, but it doesn't seem that far-fetched.  

[RiotAct]

19 minutes ago, Maine-iac said:

I asked myself before this game, do you show all your cards?  I really would love to have seen some situational blitzing.  That said I do hope we have a bunch of things up our sleeves because we will be playing in January this year.

(Deep narrator voice) They didn’t have anything up their sleeves.

[DuckyBoys]

3 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

I don't think this is the defense we'll see in the playoffs. We didn't throw in any wrinkles, looked to me like it was basic zone or man coverage across the board. That's not how we've been playing before today.

 

The offense I don't really have excuses for because we've seen the same crappy situational play calling all season long. I'd like to think Daboll won't call mindless 1 yard runs in the playoffs over and over again but it's a recurring issue.

 

 

so were sandbagging for the playoffs?

[Jerboski]

Defensive gameplan was bad, we were content to let them get it to the redzone then hold to a FG, very disappointing from McDermott 

[zow2]

Just now, DuckyBoys said:

 

 

so were sandbagging for the playoffs?

I don’t buy that. McD, the coaching staff, The players, Beane, The Pegulas... they all wanted this game badly.  They wanted nothing more than to start the changing of the guard.

[Dr.Sack]

Remember our Week 4 game featured an illegal pick that Gordon took 30+ yards. But in all Burkhead & Michel bullies our LBs & our DL didn’t do enough to win the line of scrimmage battle.

[PatsFanNH]

IMO the fact both Burkhead and Michel ran for 95 and 96 yards was the difference in the game.  That’s why the passing game worked the LB bit on the PA passes.  
 

this was the first game the Pats O didn’t look like a pile of goo against a good to elite D. 

[Virgil]

1 minute ago, PatsFanNH said:

IMO the fact both Burkhead and Michel ran for 95 and 96 yards was the difference in the game.  That’s why the passing game worked the LB bit on the PA passes.  
 

this was the first game the Pats O didn’t look like a pile of goo against a good to elite D. 

 

Oh, you can get the ***** out of here

[HappyDays]

4 minutes ago, DuckyBoys said:

 

 

so were sandbagging for the playoffs?

 

Possibly. This coaching staff plans things several weeks ahead of time. We went from an aggressive pressure defense to a vanilla rush 4 defense. I didn't see any slot corner blitzes, we didn't use Edmunds the same we have been the past few weeks, and we didn't have White shadowing Edelman. Maybe I'm giving McDermott and Frazier too much credit but I think they're better than that performance today. I think they're saving some of that stuff for meaningful games, starting with Houston.